BARTZOKIS, Olga (Gatzoyiannis) Greatly Loved Formerly of Worcester, Mass., passed away at home at the age of 90 surrounded by her family and friends. Known for her dedication to her husband, Constantinos, and four children, Spryo, Christos, Thomas and Eleni, she was born in Lia, Epirus, Greece on November 28, 1927.

In 1948 Olga led her family out of her Communist guerrilla-held village during the Greek Civil War. After arriving in the US, Olga took charge of the Gatzoyiannis household and two years later, married a Greek immigrant from the nearby village of Costana, Konstantinos (Dino) Bartzokis, and they started their own family.

In 1966 the Bartzokis family moved to Needham, where Dino opened the Needham House of Pizza, which is still in operation today. Olga was devoted to her family and side-by-side with her husband and children, they operated the family restaurant. Working together, Olga's immigrant work ethic was imparted to her children, two who became doctors and two who became lawyers. From the savings they put aside from the pizza parlor, Olga and Dino (who predeceased her in 2006), invested wisely in real estate and were able to live their later years in comfort.

Olga is survived by three sons and a daughter: Spyro, a lawyer in Orlando with his wife Calliope; Christos, also a lawyer in Orlando with his wife Patricia; Thomas, a cardiologist in Boca Raton with his wife Peggy; and Eleni, a physician in Needham. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Katherine Ashford and her husband Jason, Dean Bartzokis and his wife Shannon, Kristin Bartzokis, Alexander Bartzokis, Elizabeth Bartzokis, Marina Bartzokis and Melina Chadbourne.

Three siblings also survive her: Alexandra Stratis of Worcester, Tina Haithis of Milton, and Nicholas Gage and his wife Joan of North Grafton. She is also survived by two great grandchildren and eight nephews and nieces.

Olga was active in both St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Worcester and St. Demitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Weston, as well as several organizations formed by natives of the Epiros region in Greece.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 102 Russell St., Worcester, where the funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10. Burial will be next to her husband of 55 years at Hope Cemetery. All those attending are invited to a luncheon at l:00 p.m. at the Manor in West Boylston to celebrate Olga's life. oconnorbrothers.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Jan. 8 to Jan. 9, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for OLGA BARTZOKIS

13 Entries

May 2, 2018

Dear Bartzokis family

Argyro Lolis

January 15, 2018

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

judy white

January 12, 2018

Dear Spyro and Kelly, Our hearts and prayers go out to you and the family on the loss of your dear mother, Olga. Sending you our deepest condolences and heartfelt wishes for strength and comfort to get through this difficult time. Judy and Dan White

J F

January 10, 2018

To the family,
I'm sorry to hear about your great loss. May the God who binds up the brokenhearted and comfort all who mourn sustain your family doing this most difficult time.
Isaiah 60:1,2
- with heartfelt sympathy

January 9, 2018

May relatives and friends turn to God for strength, endurance, and comfort....
He alone understands all the different ways genetic makeup can affect the way in which we grieve, and is therefore able to comfort all individually as well as collectively...

Essie C IN

Marci Kenney

January 9, 2018

She was quite a lady! Our condolences.--Marci and Larry Kenney (friends of Aleka's)

Lynn Eaton

January 9, 2018

Dear Eleni, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Lynn Eaton

Ann

January 9, 2018

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

January 9, 2018

May you find comfort from the words found at Jhon 5:28. ,May you find comfort from the words found at Jhon 5:28.

January 8, 2018

To the Bartzokis family , i am saddened to hear of Theas passing , but have taken some time to revisit some lovely memories from my childhood. Our parents were so close . I can here them now , and i would like to think of them reconnecting in heaven. May you all find peace , comfort iand many smiles in your memories.
Maria ( Vangos ) Brann

Joanna Koulisis Price

January 8, 2018

A legacy. A huge part of my life. Rest in peace Mrs.B. until we meet again. To Spiro,Chris,Tommy, and Eleni I am so sorry for your loss. Spent so much of my childhood with you guys. My prayers for strength shall be with you. My prayers will also be for the entire family in this time of sorrow.

Katherine Fausset

January 8, 2018

Sending heartfelt condolences to the family of Olga Bartzokis.
I have such fond memories of her (whom I met as "Thitsa Olga") at the Gage family's kitchen table in Grafton over coffee and koulourakia. She was always so warm and welcoming to me. I know she will be missed greatly. I'm so glad for the chance to have met her.
She and her family are in my thoughts.

Marianne (Gatzogiannis) & Barry Bellemare

January 8, 2018

Dear Spiro, Chris, Tommy, Eleni and family,

Did you ever look at the word MOM upside down? It reads WOW! A summation of the life of Olga Bartzokis truly exemplifies a woman who had powerful strength. The journey Thia Olga endured throughout her life achievements as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, and an aunt, symbolizes the love and respect rendered to an extended family. She never lacked resilience. The name Olga means blessed/holy and successful'. For a woman who was small in stature with a quiet influence, she certainly experienced hardships during her early years, but it's evident she always put others before herself.

Reading about her sisters working at Table Talk Pie (a landmark fixture in the Worcester community especially for immigrants in the early 60's}, all I can think of is if there were 4 pieces of pie to be divided amongst 5 people in the room, Thia Olga would have politely said she never cared for pie. Her fulfillment in the circle of life was complete by caring for others first, especially her children whom she adored. The apple didn't fall far from the tree where her own mother laid the roots that began in a war-torn village in the mountains of Greece.

As a kid, I loved our visits to Thia Olga's home to spend time with our 3rd cousins. Family connection was always important to her. Leaving Worcester and heading east up Route 9 to Needham, MA, I always felt welcomed and loved in her home and when I saw her at family celebrations. I will cherish the memory of your Mom's kindness, warmth, inspiration, and her loving smile. There are no words that can ease the pain of losing someone so beloved but we are all lucky to have known her. She left a great legacy. May she now rest in peace in God's loving arms and may her memory be eternal. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Love you all.

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